L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 30 2023 www.italoamericano.org 4 T he Luisa Spag- n o l i f a s h i o n house is a his- torical label that expresses time- less elegance through chic women's clothing – it sug- g e s t s I t a l y ' s a n s w e r t o Chanel. However, in recent y e a r s , t h e b r a n d h a s a l s o attracted a younger clientele, including Generation Z. We sit down with Nico- letta Spagnoli , creative director, president and chief executive officer of the fami- l y - o w n e d c o m p a n y f r o m Perugia, a medieval city sit- ting on top of a craggy hill, as lively today as when Renais- sance masters graced it 500 years ago. Nicoletta remi- nisces about her great-grand- mother Luisa Spagnoli, who had founded her name- s a k e b r a n d i n t h e l a t e 1920s when women were no l o n g e r s u b j e c t e d t o t i g h t corsets. Luisa was one of the first f e m a l e e n t r e p r e n e u r s i n Italy, a true innovator. She had grit and grace, a formi- dable recipe for women lead- ers. "Luisa was passionate, c o u r a g e o u s , d e t e r m i n e d , and kind. She left a mark through her visionary spirit," explains Nicoletta Spagnoli. "I find my great-grandmoth- er's character traits in me," she remarks proudly. In 2016, Luisa Spagnoli's life story became a TV movie biopic with Luisa Ranieri, an Italian star from Naples who is currently working as part of the cast of the Johnny Depp-directed film Modì about Italian artist Amedeo M o d i g l i a n i — t h e f i l m h a s s t a r t e d s h o o t i n g i n Budapest. Ms. Ranieri, at the t i m e o f t h e m i n i s e r i e s ' release, said that Luisa Spag- noli was a great, generous w o m a n w h o e m p o w e r e d o t h e r w o m e n . S h e h i r e d many women who were vic- tims of physical abuse or stalking by an intimate part- n e r a n d a l l o w e d t h e m t o become economically inde- pendent. Ms. Spagnoli, at the beginning of the twenti- eth century, your great- g r a n d m o t h e r c r e a t e d two incredible compa- nies: in 1907, Perugina, a c h o c o l a t e b u s i n e s s that she made prosper during the First World War by bringing other women into the factory a n d i n v e n t i n g t h e famous Perugina choco- lates called baci (kisses), milk-chocolate hearts w r a p p e d i n f o i l a n d filled with hazelnuts but- tercream. Twenty-one years later in 1928, she founded Luisa Spagnoli, a fashion house that spe- c i a l i z e d i n v e r y s o f t Angora wool garments produced thanks to the lovingly combed fur of her rabbits. Did Luisa h a v e a v e r y s t r o n g - willed personality? Yes, indeed, and all of that h a p p e n e d i n t i m e s w h e n women were denied every- thing. In the early twentieth century, she anticipated the history of feminism. She was the first woman to sit on the board of directors. She drove a car and sacrificed much of her personal life to face the challenges of her profession. She was an innovative and enlightened entrepreneur, who created a positive work- ing environment for her col- laborators and allowed them to better manage their fami- lies, for example, by making the company nursery. Over the years, the company has m a i n t a i n e d t h i s s p i r i t o f a t t e n t i o n a n d w e l l - b e i n g towards its employees. She introduced nurs- e r y s c h o o l s t o g i v e w o m e n t h e p e a c e o f m i n d o f h a v i n g t h e i r children safe and close by. What is your recipe for corporate welfare? And today, how is your relationship with your employees? Some 83 percent of our 800 employees are women. The working environment is healthy. People must work happily and peacefully: that is very important for every- o n e . O u r b u s i n e s s h a s evolved a lot in recent years. Resources are a fundamental part of an evolution that began some time ago. We offer various services to our e m p l o y e e s : w e r e c o g n i z e breastfeeding and nursery Luisa Spagnoli: fashion from the hearts of women MARIELLA RADAELLI NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS Style and elegance oN the Luisa Spagnoli catwalk and, right, Luisa Spagnoli herself (Photos courtesy of Luisa Spagnoli) CONTINUED TO PAGE 6

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